Mechanism for regulating chord base tones of a chord organ



Nov. 20, 1962 CHOSHI ENYA 3,064,517

MECHAN FOR R c; LATI CHORD BASE CHO ORGAN t 960 ES Filed Figw2/v United States Patent Ofiice 3,064,517 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 3,064,517 MECHANISM FOR REGULATING (II-IORD BASE TONES OF A CHORD ORGAN Choshi Enya, Hamamatsu-shi, Japan, assignor to Nihon Gakki Seize Kabushiki Kaisha, Haniarnatsu-shi, Japan Filed Sept. 19, 196i), Ser. No. 57,030 Claims priority, application Japan Dec. 24, 1959 1 Claim. (Cl. 84-444) This invention relates to chord organs, and more particularly it relates to a new and improved mechanism for regulating the chord base tones of a chord organ.

In the conventional chord organ which includes a combination of a pedal keyboard and manual chord buttons, the pedal keyboard has been made to carry out simultaneously the two operations for the chord base notes and the bass notes; and, since the musical instrument is played by depressing this keyboard with the left foot, the chord base tones and the bass tones have always been the same tones, and it has been impossible to introduce the fifths and thirds of the bass tones and other tones.

It is an essential object of this invention to provide a mechanism for regulating the chord base tones of a chord organ of the type mentioned above, whereby the chord base tones may be separated from and made independent of the operation of the pedal keyboard and whereby it is possible to render bass tones at will.

The manner in which the foregoing as well as other objects and advantages may best be achieved will be understood more fully from a consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the mechanical arrangement associated with the chord regulating bar and pedal key depicted in perspective in FIG. 2 showing how the embodiment herein contemplated operates in the organ shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of an organ incorporating the device of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, reference letter P designates a pedal key, and letter A designates a manual chord regulating bar. A spring 1 is fixed rigidly to the pedal key P and is in contact with the lower end of an actuating bar 2, which actuates a series of chord switches 3, and which has an actuator projection 8. A bass switch 4 is provided to be actuated also by movements of the pedal key P. The chord regulating bar A is fixed to a bent lever 5, which rotates about a pivot 9, and which is provided with a rotational return spring 10. The lower end of the said bent lever 5 is in contact with a hook lever 7, which is pivotally supported by pivot 7, and which is engaged by a spring 6.

The device of the invention which, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises the above-described, essential elements has the following operation. When the chord regulating bar A is depressed, the bent lever 5 rotates about its pivot 9; the hook lever 7 is forced away from the actuator projection 8 by the spring 6; and the actuating bar 2 becomes free to move up or down. Now, if the pedal key P is depressed, the actuating bar 2 will be pushed up by the spring 1; the chord switches 3 will all be caused to close their circuits simultaneously; and, at the same time, the bass switch 4 will also be caused to close its circuit. If, with the device in this condition, the chord regulating bar A is released, the hook lever 7 will return to its original position, and its lower end will catch under the lower side of the actuator projection 8, whereby the chord switches 3 will be fixed in their circuit closing posi tions. Accordingly, if the pedal key P is now released, the tip of the spring 1 will separate away from the actuating bar 2, and only the bass switch 4 will be opening its circuit.

The chord base tones are set by the above-described control procedure. Then, if a chord button is depressed, in the case of any chord button, the various chords set by the pedal key are rendered. Next, it another pedal key is depressed with the chord regulating bar A as it is, the end of the spring 1 of the said pedal key will push the actuating bar 2 upward, but the actuator projection 8 will strike against the lower side of the hook lever 7 and stop. Consequently, the chord switches will not be switched on, and any further movement of the pedal key will merely cause an elastic deformation of the spring 1. On the other hand, the bass switch 4 will close its circuit in the normal manner. Consequently, only the bass tone is emitted.

In order to vary the base tones further, the desired pedal key is depressed while the chord regulating bar is kept pressed down, whereupon the actuator projection 8 corresponding to the base notes set up to the time is released by its hook lever 7, the hitherto set chord switches are opened by their own elasticity, and the chord switches of the newly depressed pedal key are newly set.

Since by the manipulation of the chord regulating bar as described above, it is possible to designate at will the chord base tones of the pedal keys, once the tones of a pedal key are designated by the chord regulating bar, the chord buttons are set to said chord base tones until the next change of chord base tones by means of the chord regulating bar; and, irrespective of the pedal key to be depressed next, the various chords of the base tones which have been set are rendered at will. On the other hand, the bass switch of the tone corresponding to the depressed pedal opens and closes, irrespective of the designation of the chords. Therefore, the invention has an effective advantage for musical renditions in that bass tones can be rendered, at will, independently of the chords.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will, of course, be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited thereto, since many modifications can be made in the above described details without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, and it is contemplated by the appended claim to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

In an electric organ having a first switch arrangement for playing chord base tones and a second switch arrangement for playing a plurality of bass tones, the improvement therein whereby it is possible to set a chord base tone for playing together with any number of bass tones, comprising in combination;

a depressiable chord regulating bar;

a pivoted bent lever rotated about a pivot point by depressing said chord regulating bar which engages one end of said bent lever;

spring means on said bent lever tending to retain it in a non-depressed condition;

a pivoted hook lever having a hook end, said hook lever being rotated about its pivot and said hook end moved to engagement when said hook end is pushed by said bent lever other end;

spring means tending to keep said hook end away from engagement;

a plurality of first switches to form chord base tones;

a chord actuating bar moving all said switches into and out of contact simultaneously closing a chord base tone circuit;

a projection on the end of said chord actuating bar designed to be engaged by said hook end;

a plurality of pivoted pedal levers any of which when depressed will move said chord actuating bar so as to close said switches; and,

3,064,517 7 p p 3 4 separatebass tone second switches each separately fixing said first switches in a closed circuit position actuated by-depressing each of said pedal levers; so that when saidpedal is released only the bass whereby, when said chord regulating bar is depressed, tone second switch will open leaving said first switches the bent lever rotates about its pivot away from enclosed even though another bass tone pedal is gagernent from said hook lever which in turn is 5 pressed. forced by its spring away from said projection and said chord actuating bar is free to move up and down References Ciied in the file of this Patent so that if a pedal lever is depressed, said chord UNITED STATES PATENTS actuating bar will be pushed up by said pedal and simultaneously close said first switches and second 10 g i z g 3 2 33 h switches, and, if m this condltion said chord reg 1a- 2,962,922 Cutler 6, 1960 ing bar is released, said bent lever will force said hook lever hook end into engagement with said projection, 

